Folding chair



(No Model.)

J. P. GAGE.

I FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 369331. Patented'Sept. 18, 1887;

.dttorney llNrTED STATES PATENT Garret.

JAMES P. GAGE, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,931, dated September 13, 1887. Application filed April 11, 1887. Serial No.234,391. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. GAGE, of Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved folding chair open. Fig. 2 is a view showing the chair-back turned down. Fig. 3 is a view of the chair folded for transportati on.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs; and its objects are to provide a chair which can be folded into small space for trans portation, or partly folded to prevent the back thereof obstructing the passage of persons when not in use, thereby adapting the same for use in public halls or theaters or as a campchair.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts of the chair, as will be fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,and particularly specified in the annexed claim.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A and B designate two frames, of general rectangular form, and which constitute the legs or supports of the chair proper. Each of these frames is constructed of two side pieces, a a, connected near top and bottom by cross pieces or rounds b b, so that they are firmly braced thereby The frame B is made narrower than frame A, so that it can be passed between the side pieces, a, thereof, and have its side pieces pivoted at their center to the center of the side pieces of frame A, as shown, in the manner of an ordinary camp-stool. The side pieces, a, of the frames are preferably made with double curves, as shown in side view, for the purpose of strength and symmetry of appearance, the curves of frames A B when the chair is put together facing in opposite directions. The upper rounds, I) b, of the frames have secured between them a strip, 0, of flexible material, which forms the seat of the chair and prevents the upper ends of the frames falling apart, but will permit them to be closed together. This strip 0 may be ornamented in any suitable manner.

D designates a frame forming the back of the chair, and composed of side bars, d, connected by suitable cross-pieces, as shown. The bars (1 correspond in contour to the pieces a of frames A B, and frame D corresponds in width to frame A, and has the lower ends of its bars d pivotally attached to the upper ends of the pieces a of frame B, which they embrace, as shown.

E E designate curved arms, which have their front ends bent down on a short curve and pivoted to the upper ends of pieces a of frame A, as shown. The rear ends of arms E are curved slightly upward, and are provided with correspondingly-shaped slots 6, which extend inward for about one-third of the length of the arms, and F F designate headed pins or studs which pass through slots 6, and are secured to the side bars, d, of back I), and which, when the chair is open, lie against the rearends of slots 6 and hold the back in proper position, as shown.

To lower the back, the frames A B are slightly folded, causing the arms E to move backward and permitting back D to be turned rearward until its pins F pass beyond a line taken through the pivots of the arms on frame A and the pivots of the back on frame B. The back D will then fall of itself, the slots 6 allowing pins F to approach the pivots of arms E, and the chair can be set upright in the position shown in Fig. 2, or entirely closed for transportation, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that only two patterns are necessaryin making myimproved chairthat is, one pattern for arms E E and one for the side pieces, a d, of frames A, B, and D, the side pieces of which are all preferably cut from the same pattern; also, that by having the side pieces of the frames of the same contour and pivoting them together, as described, the piecesd of the back will, when folded, lie directly upon and over the side pieces, a, of frame A, thereby relieving the pivots of the back from strain and lessening the liability of damage in transporta- By reason of the curvature of the legs tion.

back and leg I and back the chairs can, when folded, be piled upon each other without danger of falling over.

I am aware that it is not new to make a folding chair having slotted side pieces secured to its arms, engaged by studs or pins in the chair-back, such as is shown in Patent No. 164,321, of1875. Such devices I do not claim, broadly; but

' What I do claim is The combination, in'a folding chair, of the frames A and B, each composed of the doublecurved side pieces, a a, and connecting-bars b b, the frame B being narrower than frame A and pivoted centrally within said frame, and a flexible strip, 0, secured to the upper bars, 12, of frames A B, with the back D, composed of side pieces, d, similar to pieces a, and suitable connecting-bars corresponding in width to frame A, and embracing between its side pieces the side pieces of frame B and pivotally connected therewith, and the curved arms E, each having a front downwardly-curved portion pivotally connected to the adjoining side piece, a, of frame A, outside thereof, and a rear upwardly-curved portion having a similarly-curved longitudinal slot, 6, therein, and playing upon headed pins F, secured to the side piece, d, of the back, all constructed and arranged substantially-in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES P. GAGE. Witnesses:

W. O. HARRIS, vO. W. SMITH. 

